2024 - SL/APL Challenge/Support Thread

[ItsMeLilLucky]

What browser did you download?

DuckDuckGo. It's super fast too.

 

[GettingKinky]

The ads just started showing up for me today. I guess the figured out how to get around my ad blocker. :-(

ETA: Actually I found out that I hadn’t enabled the blocker for this site. Now it’s working great.

 

[GettingKinky]

Double post

 

[faithVA]

DuckDuckGo. It's super fast too.

Thank you for this suggestion. I downloaded it this morning and set it as my default browser. It is working well

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

Thank you for this suggestion. I downloaded it this morning and set it as my default browser. It is working well

No problem! Happy to help!

 

[CoiledOrchids]

shampoo and dc biweekly
hot oil treatment once a month
trims every 3 months

protective style: flat twist updo ; two strand twist

 

[faithVA]

It was nice wearing my hair straight for a short period but will be glad to put 2 strands back in and not have to do anything to it for 2 weeks. With straight hair, I have to take it down every few days and add some type of cream to help it go in one direction (lol)

I probably wouldn't wear my hair straight very often even if it was longer. But a nice twist out would be great.

 

[keranikki]

I feel you on the ad situation. It is beyond ridiculous at this point. I would rather pay a higher fee to avoid the ads.

Update:
My virus protection, Malwarebytes, has a mobile app with add blocker. It’s working splendidly!

 

[faithVA]

I'm back in the office 4 days a week so I'm having to get back into doing my hair While I was home I randomly did my hair and it looked crazy most of the time. Now I need to get on some type of schedule.

I also need to color my hair but since I waited so late, I probably won't color until December when I do my reveal. Maybe the grays will convince me to put in two strands next weekend. The grays don't look so bad with two strands as they do with flat twist.

That reminds me, I want to go out to Amazon and reorder a protein treatment and a scalp treatment.

 

[faithVA]

Being back in the office has definitely helped me be more consistent with my hair routine. I got my hair done tonight so I don't have to squeeze it in Monday night.

I didn't reorder the items I mentioned before but I did put them in my cart. So when I'm ready to click the button they are there.

I moved into a new home in April which is on septic, so I'm going to start looking into plant based shampoos and conditioners. And I will look more carefully at any future products I buy. Hopefully, I can find something that works for me.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Is AG haircare plant based @faithVA

 

[faithVA]

Is AG haircare plant based @faithVA

I dont know but I have a reaction to something in it. I don't remember if it was the shampoo or conditioner. Ulta had a buy one get one so I had double of both and after 3 shampoos I had to stop using it

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Was it one in particular ? I’m using curl fresh shampoo and conditioner. I prefer it over the acv shampoo and conditioner. @faithVA

 

[faithVA]

Was it one in particular ? I’m using curl fresh shampoo and conditioner. I prefer it over the acv shampoo and conditioner. @faithVA

I'm not sure anymore. It is probably whatever there original one is. I probably need to find out what ingredient is causing the issue so I can check the labels. I will have to find a bottle and see if I can figure it out. After I went through menopause, I started having all types of issues with essential oils and anything that has too strong of a scent. So it could be almost anything :sad

My previous stylist used AG and she would forget sometimes and wash my hair with it. And I could tell within 30 seconds that she used it because my scalp would inflame.

I'm glad you brought this one up so I can do some research. I have been using the same 3 shampoos for the past 3 years and it wasn't on my radar to look at ingredients.

I will compare the ingredients in what you say you are using and in the original to see if I can see any different.

Thank you!

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Let me know I’m curious. @faithVA

I’m only washing once every 4 weeks but I’ve been using Bondbar religiously. The AG curl fresh is there if I need to spread my conditioner out. I will do a second wash with the shampoo after the Bondbar if I’m feeling swanky.

 

[faithVA]

Let me know I’m curious. @faithVA

I’m only washing once every 4 weeks but I’ve been using Bondbar religiously. The AG curl fresh is there if I need to spread my conditioner out. I will do a second wash with the shampoo after the Bondbar if I’m feeling swanky.

I think the AG product I had was AG Boost. I looked up the bottle.

I may stop at Ulta to see if they have any sample bottles.

I think I will also go to WholeFoods and our local natural food store to see what they carry. They tend to lean on the natural, organic side and I can pick it up locally.

I need to go ahead and get this done because my eyes are really mad at me for sticking with this shampoo (lol)

 

[faithVA]

I ordered a shampoo bar and a conditioner bar. We will see how it goes.

I did my weekly shampoo, condition, etc. I finally put my hair in 2 strands. I will try to wear these for 10 days but with the cool weather I may need to reset around 10. I can tell it is about time for another K18 treatment. I will do one when I take out these twist and then that should put me on course for the next one towards the end of December, when I color and straighten for my length check.

I have had good retention this year. But I am looking forward to being able to put my hair into some large twists and just put it in a twisted bun. Sigh! Maybe next Fall.

 

[faithVA]

Tried the Kitsch shampoo and conditioner bars tonight. It's too early to know how well they work but tonight was promising.

The shampoo bar lathered well and was moisturizing and didn't cause my hair to tangle. The conditioner bar is going to take some practice. I kept applying it because I couldn't feel it on my hair and suddenly I realized I had a ton of it in my hair. I was able to detangle with it.

It says you can use it as a leave in but I will use them several more times to see if that is viable.

I used my TGIN leave in and it went on nicely and it seemed better.

Time will tell

 

[faithVA]

Anyone sharing a December update?

Is anyone looking for a 2025 thread? We need at least 5 people.

Sorry I've been mia since November. My subscription expired and I just renewed today.

 

[faithVA]

I procrastinated and didn't purchase the Pronexa bond treatment from Amazon. I like it so I don't have any idea why I haven't just purchased it.

@Bette Davis Eyes has been sharing Bond Bar so I stopped by Sally's to check it out. And there were so many products that I was overwhelmed. I picked up the booster and the recovery so I will give them a try this weekend. The sales person tried to convince me on the Aphogee but that has never done anything for my hair.

Not sure exactly when I will do my hair. I think this weekend I may use the Bond Bar products, clarify, do K18 and then do a deep conditioner. And maybe midweek, I will color my hair, straighten it and trim my ends.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I use the booster and recovery on occasion. The shampoo and conditioner is what I’ve used consistently every 4 weeks to wash.

The deep conditioner as well. @faithVA

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I have the clarifying shampoo as well. So when I want to clarify the use that first @faithVA

 

[faithVA]

I grabbed the wrong shampoo. I intended to use the Elucence Clarifying shampoo but grabbed the moisturizing one instead. I knew my hair was too manageable (lol). I thought I was done with the treatment part of my hair and could just color mid week. But I will need to clarify first before I color. I may clarify, condition and color on Tuesday and let it air dry. Then I can blow dry to stretch it, flat iron and trim it on Wednesday. I think I just want it to be over.

 

[faithVA]

I decided not to clarify. Instead I just colored my hair, shampooed and conditioned.

I will let my hair air dry overnight. It will still be damp. Tomorrow I will blow dry and stretch and then flat iron

Looking forward to being done.

 

[faithVA]

I am finally done and glad to have it over (lol)

I did not reach SL but I am very close. All of my hair reaches at least the bottom of my neck. And I have some of my hair that reaches my collar bone. So with good growth and retention I should at least have all of my strands grazing SL by March. Full SL should be in 2025 but don't know how to predict when.


I had noticeable growth from January through September and then after that I think my top layers just grew in to the same length as my lower layers.



December 2023


December 2024

 

[GettingKinky]

I am finally done and glad to have it over (lol)

I did not reach SL but I am very close. All of my hair reaches at least the bottom of my neck. And I have some of my hair that reaches my collar bone. So with good growth and retention I should at least have all of my strands grazing SL by March. Full SL should be in 2025 but don't know how to predict when.


I had noticeable growth from January through September and then after that I think my top layers just grew in to the same length as my lower layers.



December 2023
View attachment 500184View attachment 500186View attachment 500188

December 2024
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Great progress @faithVA !!

 

[faithVA]

Great progress @faithVA !!

Thank you! I appreciate the support over the years.

 

[faithVA]

Did a flat twist out with Mielle Souffle. It's a promising style for when my hair grows out.